TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Ben Hogan Award Watch List was released today by the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resorts, in conjunction with Colonial Country Club, The Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America. Among the list of 27 collegiate golfers was Florida State’s own Daniel Berger.
“It’s an honor to be put in a class of such elite amateur collegiate players,” said Berger. “It shows that hard work pays off and that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish it. I’m still far away from winning this award, but it really motivates me to work harder than anyone. Hopefully my name will be called at the end of the season and I’ll het the honor of having my name on the trophy.”
Berger, a native of Jupiter, Fla., is one of only seven sophomores named to the list and is one of the 17 golfers appearing on the Watch List for the first time in their careers. Berger is ranked No. 14 in the nation by Golfweek and is No. 29 by Golfstat. Berger played seven rounds this fall with an average score of 70.14
Last season he helped Florida State to one of its best seasons. Berger finished in third at the NCAA Southwest Regional Championship and tied in seventh at the ACC Championship. He as one of the nation’s top freshman as he was the team’s top finisher in three events and was in the starting line-up in seven of eight events during the spring.
“Daniel has set some lofty goals for himself this year,” said head coach Trey Jones. “To be in a situation to be considered for an honor halfway through the season shows a good second half will give him an opportunity to reach some of his goals.”
A list of 10 semifinalists will be unveiled on Thursday, April 18. On Wednesday, May 8, that group will be pared down to three finalists. The winner will be crowned at a black-tie banquet at Colonial Country Club on Monday, May 20.
The award, which was first issued in 1990 and included academic achievement in its original list of standards, revised its criteria for the 2001-02 collegiate season to its current standard of honoring the outstanding amateur collegiate golfer.
